New year, new fees.

On Nov. 1, 2023, Tacoma-Pierce County Board of Health adopted the proposed 2024 Fee Schedule (Resolution 2024-4813). The 2024 rates went into effect Jan. 1, 2024.

You can view the 2024 rates for our On-Site Sewage, Individual Well and Water Resources on our fee schedule.

We review our fees each year to ensure we:

• Cover our costs.
• Meet the needs of our community, customers, and industry partners.
• Are fiscally responsible with public funds.

Contact us at ehsepticsystems@tpchd.org if you have questions.

Review recent updates to our regulations and policies.

View new and revised policies on our website:

• Tank Replacement Policy—Updated to clarify ATU replacement.
• One-Compartment Tank Policy—Updated to clarify situations where policy applies.
• Non-Concrete Tank Requirements—Outlines requirements and procedures for non-concrete tanks in areas with a high water table.

Coming soon! A new policy for Design Flow for Structures. Questions? Email us at OSSTAG@tpchd.org.

Subsurface drip requirements

Drip layouts on designs must show the actual proposed layout of the drip tubing. Setback between drip systems is 5 feet.

Changes to ECO application processing

Beginning Jan. 22, 2024, Health Department division support staff will do an initial review of your ECO applications instead of EHS I/II staff. This change will not affect review timelines or requirements. You can help us with this transition. Please be as specific as possible in your project description.

Provide gate codes.

Ensure you provide current gate codes, where applicable, when you submit applications. Please confirm the gate code when you submit a final call in.

Attend a lunch and learn on shoreline exemptions for emergency septic repairs.

Do you preform emergency septic repairs? Bring your lunch and hear from representatives from Pierce County Planning and Public Works (PPW) and Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department.

• Date: Feb. 6, 2024.
• Time: 12-1 p.m.
• Location: Pierce County Annex
                    Pantages Conference Room
                    2401 South 35th St.
                    Tacoma, WA 98409

• Parking: Park on east end of building. The Pantages Room is through that entrance and to the right.

Can’t make it in person?

Join us on Zoom.

• Meeting link
• Zoom meeting ID: 990 1452 6338
• Zoom password: 583839

Please RSVP.

About the procedure

Emergency septic system repairs are necessary when a failure poses an imminent risk to public health. When you propose a repair within the 200-foot shoreline jurisdiction or in the regulated flood hazard area, you must secure shoreline approvals from PPW and the Health Department. Learn about PPW’s new procedure.

Questions?

• Email PCPermits@PierceCountyWa.gov if you have questions about the lunch and learn or procedure.
• Email EHSepticSystems@tpchd.org if you have questions about the Health Department’s role in emergency septic repairs.

Questions?

Visit tpchd.org/septic or contact us at ehsepticsystems@tpchd.org or (253) 649-1925.